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Ascot Racecourse (Free Royal Ascot Past Performances)
It’s closing day at Royal Ascot and by and large it’s been a good week for Tom and Rich. Let’s go out with a bankroll bang!
Race 1: Chesham Stakes
Race 2: Hardwicke Stakes
Race 3: Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Stakes
Race 4: Jersey Stakes
Race 5: Wokingham Handicap
Race 6: Golden Gates Handicap
Race 7: Queen Alexandra Stakes
Royal Ascot Horse Racing Picks
22 to 1 Toms Ascot Tips
RACE 1- Chesham Stakes (Listed) (Class 1) (2YO only) 7f
1 – Ace of Gold – Draw 12
Won the first start by speeding up at the end and going clear. Breeding says 7f no problem and beyond. The comment “exciting prospect” is hard to dispute—short price.
15 – Expense Rose – Draw 9
She’s raced two times with a second in her first start, ran green, and dwelt at the start, so she was a bit of a mess. In the second start, she won by running close up and went on to the lead with two furlongs left. She will like the distance.
6 – Harvey – Draw 7
As a first-time starter, the trainer must think this one is very good because his only other 2-year-old starter went off at 150-1 and ran last. The jockey booking is one of the best riders in France. Makes you think, maybe I should include on my ticket.
RACE 2 – Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 1m 4f
8 – Middle Earth – Draw 8
He won his last two races on the good to firm going in listed and group 3 company. He has run well in almost all his races, and this distance suits him. He’s a slow starter, so don’t be surprised if he’s in the rear of the field at the start.
9 – Missed The Cut – Draw 3
Interesting runner for John Sadler and has three strong runs this year with two wins and one second. In his last race, he ran second between the two Charlie Appleby runs at Keeneland. He won at Ascot in 2022, sitting mid-field and storming home. He is in form and should be ready for his best. James Doyle has the ride and is doing well at the Royal Ascot Meet.
2 – Continuous – Draw 7
I can’t leave out the favorite; he’s coming in off a layoff after running fifth in the ARC. He’s won first-up and at this level. His only run at Ascot was running second to King of Steel, pulling clear of the rest of the field.
RACE 3 – Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (4YO plus) 6f
5 – Mill Stream – Draw 8
He won his last race at York over a group 2 group by a head. It was his first win since August 2023. Both starts this season have been good. His run in top company all along and will repeat here.
4 – Kinross – Draw 13
He returns to the races of some good runs last season. He’s won group 1’s at this level at this distance. Coming off a layoff, he won, but not at this level. Based on his past performance, I can’t pass on him, and he will be ready for a top effort.
8 – Shartash – Draw 2
He was sold at the end of 2023 for $150k, and Archie Watson took over, and he hasn’t lost yet in the two runs on heavy and good going. Both these races were at 7 furlongs. He won a Group 2 at the Curragh as a 2yo. He moved up in class here, but he is ready.
RACE 4 – Jersey Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3YO only) 7f
2 – Boiling Point – Draw 17
His last three races were at 7 furlongs. Last out at Newmarket, he won by three-quarters of a length in a listed race as the favorite. He ran second twice. All these races were on the good to good to firm going. He is a consistent horse, and he will win at a price.
17 – Task Force – Draw 8
The first start of the season was in the 2000 Guineas, and it was the worst race of his four-race career, running seventh. We know what happened to some of the horses in that race, including winning the Epsom Derby, the 2000 Irish Guineas, the St. James Palace, and running well in other races. He has a race and drops in the distance for a great effort today.
12 – Never So Brave – Draw 11
He’s running either second or first in his four races. The last two are wins at today’s distance. He’s moving up in class from maiden and handicap races to run at a distance he has had success. He’s ready for this race today.
1 – Haatem – Draw 15
He’s running in two Group 1s and one Group 3 and won his first start at one mile (the Group 3). He was second once and third once to good horses. He will be one of the favorites, but he will run a good race but not win.
RACE 5 – Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3YO plus) 6f
5 – Harry Three – Draw 23
Before his last race, he hadn’t run since 2022. He ran four by three and three-quarters lengths. He was asked to go, but he didn’t, finishing evenly. Ryan Moore returns to the saddle, and he has won on the horse in the past. With a race that he needed, he will be ready for a top effort.
9 – Unequal Love – Draw 1
He drops from a group 2 race where he ran fifth by two and a half lengths. He won a listed race at Newmarket in his first start. I am putting it as an in-the-money, but the draw sucks.
18 – Chipstead – Draw 21
The last run was pretty good, except he lost by four lengths when he had to switch over with one furlong left in the race. He won his last race on the all-weather in a handicap and his other race today; he made progress but not a winning effort. He will need a good trip and a strong finish to run in the money.
7 – Saint Lawrence – Draw 17
He dropped from a group 3 race, his first start of the year, to class 2 handicaps with average runs but better than they looked on paper because he was running with the wrong groups and position. He needs to get a good trip to improve his chances.
RACE 6 – Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap) (Class 2) (3YO only) 1m 2f
5 – Balmacara – Draw 5
He ran all his races at 7 furlongs. The last one was on the turf in a listed race on the good to soft going and ran an ok three. He had success at Dundalk on the all-weather, winning both starts. Why pick him? Because his breeding is screaming distance, and today, that is what he will finally run. He wins at a nice price.
11 – Dambuster – Draw 11
He won two starts at the maiden and novice levels and failed badly at the Group 3 level. He’s won at the distance as the favorite. He will continue his good from today’s slight rise in class. The draw is not ideal.
16 – Portsmouth – Draw 3
In 2024, he had good runs with one win and two seconds, becoming the favorite in two of those races. He’s moved from class 4 to 5 to 2. This handicap suits him, and he’s won in the good going.
10 – Approval – Draw 6
He’s run in three novice races with one win, two seconds on the all-weather, and the good to firm going. Big class rise today; add that he won by four and one-quarter lengths. He will have a chance here.
RACE 7 – Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions Race) (Class 2) (4YO plus) 2m 5½f
2 – Dawn Rising – Draw 7
He’s run two races this season in Ireland against a horse he had no chance against and the Ascot Gold Cup winner – Kyprios. Today, he drops to a level and races where he’s running well. William Buick is the rider.
6 – Run For Oscar – Draw 11
Last, he didn’t run well in a listed race and a distance that was too short. When he’s run at two miles plus, he has four runs, two wins and two thirds. Most of the money he’s made has been in races with distance. He gets that today.
7 – Tashkhan – Draw 12
This will be his first season start, and he has run in the money off layoffs. He will be along in time to be in the money.
Rich’s Royal Ascot Ranks
Race 1: Chesham Stakes
1 – AGE OF GOLD – strong breeding, rallied aggressively after a slow start, more distance helps
15 – EXPENSIVE ROSE – another with good breeding, 3/5 fav in last with easy win
14 – BEDTIME STORY – going to be your favorite follow an impressive debut for Aidan O’Biren
18 – MISS EL FUNDI – ran green in her debut, bred to be on grass and shows more today
Race 2: Hardwicke Stakes
2 – CONTINUOUS – smashes the comp when he wins and easily handled the 2nd ML choice
6 – GOLIATH – very capable at the distance 6/4-1-0 – never ran on good, could love or hate it
4 – DESERT HERO – going to be better in the third up – has an Ascot win
8 – MIDDLE EARTH – unbeaten in a pair at the distance, both by a nose
Race 3: Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Stakes
3 – KHAADEM – defending champion and was his last win and only in 2023 – horse for the course?
4 – KINROSS – has run well at Ascot too, first up record is concerning, would have like a tune up
13 – SWINGALONG – Tom horse, win, probably not, ITM – I think yes at a big price
10 – THE WIZARD OF EYE – who can deny Ryan Moore is having a solid Ascot meet – this horse is coming of an Ascot win
Race 4: Jersey Stakes
1 – HAATEM – a few horses in here have bold, black type behind him – 2nd by a head in his last to a horse that came back to win the St James’s Stakes on Tuesday
12 – NEVER SO BRAVE – not a bad race in his 4 – class is the only question
14 – RIVER TIBER – better in 2nd up, but has a case of the thirds – three in a row – make it 4?
7 – INDIAN RUN – let’s take a shot with as he won a G3 and has an Ascot win in lone effort
Race 5: Wokingham Handicap
5 – HARRY THREE – seems like an odd mount for Ryan Moore, 2nd up after being sidelined for a year and a half – does somebody know something?
27 – GLENFINNAN – this horse has three wins – two of them in three at Ascot on good footing
10 – DARK TROOPER – another that has performed well at the track – impressive win in first up last out
20 – FERROUS – expecting a bounce back race after an even effort following two dominant wins
Race 6: Golden Gates Handicap
10 – APPROVAL – looks like one of those horses where the light came on – dominated in last
8 – HAND OF GOD – who can bet against the name?
13 – OLD FAITHFUL – ITM 6/7 – lone miss on a heavy track, winner of two in a row on good
16 – PORTSMOUTH – has not run a bad race in three since switching to turf
Race 7: Queen Alexandra Stakes
8 – UXMAL – robust breeding and came off the sidelines and crushed, better in 2nd up
13 – QUEENSTOWN – no bad races in 6 but loves to finish 2nd, done so 4 times
2 – DAWN RISING – strong breeding and fired in his last first off the sidelines
7 – TASHKHAN – another Tom horse, probably doesn’t win but doesn’t run many bad races either
